In an ongoing effort to protect sea biodiversity, Iskenderun district’s agriculture and forestry authorities have reported the profitable seize of almost 50,000 invasive pufferfish inside the previous three years.
Director Sinan Uğurlu from the Iskenderun District Agriculture and Forestry Department revealed that roughly TL 200,000 ($6,714) was disbursed as help funds to fishermen over three years for his or her efforts in catching pufferfish. Uğurlu specified {that a} help fee of TL 12.50 per specimen was granted for the toxic “lagocephalus sceleratus” pufferfish species, whereas different species fetched a charge of TL 2.50 per piece.
The marketing campaign goals to decrease the pufferfish inhabitants within the sea. Musa Bebek, a fisheries engineer on the Iskenderun District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, highlighted ongoing efforts to maintain fishermen well-informed. Bebek careworn the hazards posed by “tetrodotoxin,” a potent poison present in pufferfish, which may be transmitted to people upon consumption.
“This poison is more lethal than cyanide and attacks the human nervous system, leading to severe consequences. As there are no natural predators of pufferfish in the Mediterranean, this species poses a grave threat,” Bebek talked about. Known for his or her sturdy jaws able to breaking fishing hooks, pufferfish current vital challenges in seize.
The concerted mission to curb international invasive pufferfish populations inside territorial waters goals to mitigate injury to the nation’s fisheries and economic system whereas preserving aquatic biodiversity and shares. Bebek outlined the goals, stating: “We aim to sustainably manage resources by reducing invasive pufferfish populations. To this end, support is extended to licensed fishermen engaged in aquaculture activities and tasked with capturing invasive pufferfish species.”
The ongoing marketing campaign underscores Iskenderun district’s dedication to marine conservation by incentivizing the focused seize of invasive pufferfish, in the end safeguarding marine ecosystems and fostering sustainable utilization of marine sources.
Source: www.dailysabah.com